Over 8L students take part in reading drive in Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur: Over 8 lakh students from various educational institutes simultaneously read books between 11am and 11.45am as part of ‘Padhe Gorakhpur, Badhe Gorakhpur’ campaign on Wednesday.

Coordinator of the programme, Prof Ajay Shukla of English department, DDU Gorakhpur University, said: “As many as 1.25 lakh students from higher education institutes, 1.75 lakh from basic schools and 5.5 lakh from middle and senior secondary classes participated in the campaign.”

The programme was organised at the instance of governor Anandiben Patel.

At DDU Gorakhpur University, the programme was inaugurated by vice-chancellor Prof VK Singh, regional president of the programme and higher education officer Dr Ashwani Mishra and coordinator Prof Ajay Shukla by lighting the traditional lamp and garlanding the picture of Goddess Saraswati.

Addressing the programme, DDU Gorakhpur University VC Prof VK Singh said: “In the age of technology, children are losing touch with books and getting dependent on gadgets. The campaign will motivate students to read more books as reading contributes in development of creativity, imagination and concentration.”

Dr Ashwani Mishra said common people would be associated with the programme in future. Prof Ajay Shukla said the campaign would be organised every month and more people would be appealed to join it.

“Hopefully, we will create a world record one day,” he said.


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